4 Fall Foods & Recipes for Improved Vein Health
The leaves are changing color, there is a tinge of cold in the air, and sewing kits come out to make homemade sweaters. That can only mean one thing: it is Fall once again. Although the heat of Summer is gone, for the most part, it is still important to protect the health of your veins. Luckily, Fall brings with it a delectable harvest of nutritious foods fit for the cornucopia that can also help you fight back against venous disease and various vein problems.
Incorporating these powerful Fall foods into your diet along with these delicious Fall recipes can contribute to a healthy diet and reduce your risk for various types of vein disease.
Pumpkin
It is a staple of this time of year, mostly being used for Jack-o’-lanterns to be carved with the kids, but throughout the season, pumpkins can serve as a versatile ingredient in many healthy dishes. They have so many uses and ways to prep them that go way beyond leaving them on the porch as a Halloween decoration. As a bonus, they can help your veins as well which is important come Fall with all those holiday meals.
Pumpkin contains beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A, and has antioxidants that help strengthen cells. It also contains a good amount of vitamin C, which acts as an anti-inflammatory in order to alleviate stress or swelling in the legs. Pumpkin also helps boost metabolism which can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Besides the flesh of the pumpkin, its seeds can offer many health benefits for your heart. Like many nuts and seeds, pumpkin seeds are naturally rich in Phytosterols that have been shown to lower “bad” cholesterol levels.
While many things around this time of year contain pumpkin flavor, please check to see if it is artificial flavoring such as treats with pumpkin spice or added sugar. Try to avoid those as much as possible, and stick with natural pumpkins instead.
Creamy Roasted Pumpkin Soup from Cookie and Kate
Cranberries
While you may be more familiar with this from the round gelatinous form out of a can that always seems to make an appearance at Thanksgiving or its more popular juice form, natural cranberries can offer a refreshing, tart bite to any Fall meal.
Cranberries contain our vein-healthy friend, vitamin C, making them a heart-healthy food and one that may improve the health of the vein walls. Likewise, cranberries have anthocyanins, which give them their red hue while also potentially reducing oxidative stress.
Roasted Cranberry, Squash & Cauliflower Salad from Eating Well
Brussel Sprouts
Maligned by kids due to their funky smell and often mushy consistency, the Brussel sprout is often overlooked and passed over among vegetables. However, prepared properly, Brussel sprouts can be used in a variety of ways to enhance a meal as a side dish or stand out as the centerpiece of a meal. Roasting these vegetables provides a healthy cooking method that produces the best flavor possible. Just keep an eye on the oven so they don’t burn!
Brussel Sprouts are part of the cruciferous family along with cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage. All of these have been found to reduce the likelihood of blood vessel disease and help limit the amount of calcium that can build up in the heart. This is most likely from the vitamin K found in each of these vegetables.
Pomegranate, Avocado, and Citrus Brussels Sprouts Salad from Cooking Light
Parsnip
This vegetable, similar to that of its root cousin, the carrot, gets tastier and sweeter when the weather gets colder, making it a perfect Fall food to incorporate into your diet. This food can be eaten raw as a crunchy snack or cooked as an element of a larger dish. Its uses are seemingly endless along with its healthy properties.
Parsnips are a source of healthy nutrients including Vitamin C, vitamin K and folate. Parsnips are high in soluble & insoluble fiber which can help decrease inflammation in the body, as well as aid in weight loss by making you feel full after a healthy meal.
Spicy Root and Lentil Casserole from BBC Good Food
These tasty Fall foods can definitely help you keep healthy and assist in disease prevention, but if you are already suffering from painful varicose veins or other vein disease, foods alone are not enough. Schedule a consultation with Elmore Medical Vein & Laser today.
Elmore Medical Vein & Laser Treatment Center is the premier vein specialty medical practice in the Central Valley. Dr. Mario H. Gonzalez and his staff offer years of experience and medical expertise that you won’t find anywhere else. Contact us to set up a consultation appointment.